Automatic spacing and punching machine



' c. K. LASSITER.

AUTOMATIC SPACING AND PUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, I920. Apr.

fi/mbuoifllassifen C. K. LASSITE'R.

AUTOMATIC SPACING AND PUNCHING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION H'LED APR- 7| 1920. 1,375,302.

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C. K. LASSITER.

AUTOMATIC SPACING A ND PUNCHING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

e SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 7, [920.

C. K. LASSITER.

AUTOMATIC S'PACING AND PUNCH-INS MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 1. 1920.

1,375,302. atented Apr. 19, 1921.

a SHEEIS-SHEET 5.

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LA S SITER.

AUTOMATIC 'SPACING AND PUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1920.

1,375,302. Patented Apr.19,1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- IUNITEDSTATES Parser wes.

COLUMBUs K. AssrrER, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ssIsNor. T0 NORMAN n. woons,

- on PATEBSON, New JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC sPACINe AND. r Noi-rrne MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ream. Patented Apr. 19, 1921. i

' Application filed April 7,1920. Serial NO. 371,977.

I T 0 all 10 ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoL MnUs K. LASSI- TER, a citizen of the United States, res 1ding at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in, Automatlc Spacin and Punching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certainnew and useful lmprovements m'spac ng and punching machines, such as are used for punching holes at determined intervals in sheet metal, and one object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which, when set into action,will operate automatically to feed the sheet supportlng table forward intermittently and punch the sheet at proper intervals until therequired number. of holes are formed, and I then reverse the direction of motion of the table and returnit to starting position.

A further 'object'of my invention is to provide simple, reliable and eflicient means whereby the degree of intermittent feed motion of the table may be varied and the punching intervals of the punch regulated and governed accordingly, and also to provide a construction of means whereby any desired number offholes may be punched and the automatic stopping of the feed motion of the table and return of the table. to Starting position effected, regardlessof the length of the. sheet.

A still further object of my'invention is to provide a drive mechanismin: frictional driving engagement with the table for forward and reverse motions, and a feed mechanism Operating to positively control and insure the intermittent forward feed motion of the tabletoproperly spaced punching positions, and to hold the same in such positions,whereby the holesv maybe accurately punched at prescribed intervals with out tendencyto distort the sheet.

A still further Object of my invention is to provide drive and feed mechanisms of the character described whereby, in the event that the tablestrikes a solid object, the drive and feed mechanisms will ,be'automatically thrown out of action to prevent possible damage to the sheet or parts of the apparatus.

M Fig. 7 is a longitudinal A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic. spacmg and punch- 1 ing machine which is simple of construction, reliable and eflicient in action, and readily and conveniently adjustable for operation to vary the punching intervals and number of punching actions according to the distance between holes to be punched and number of holes to be punched in a sheet of given size. A i

With these and other objects in view, the inventionconsists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and. claimed, reference being had to, the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a top plan view. of the machine. t

Fig. 2 is aview in elevation Ofthe machine looking from the side opposite that on which the punch mechanism is located. Fig. 3 is a view similar wFig. 2 of a portion of the machine, on. an enlarged scale. A

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the machine.

Fig. 5 is a view slmilar to' Fig. 3 viewed from the opposite side of the machine;

- Fig. 6 is a side view ofthe punch with parts appearing in section. v I

section through the sliding clutch member onfthe main-drive shaft.

Fig. 8 is asectional elevationof the. gear shifting lever and tabledrive gearing, showing in full and dotted lines, respectively, the lever and gearing in reverse and forward drive positions, A H

Fig. 9 is a' detail view of the screw-shaft, nut and coacting parts of the intermittent feed mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the ratchet drive gearing of the intermittent feed mechanism. 7

Fig. 11 is asection on the lines 11- 11of Fig. 10. i r

Fig. 12 is a detail section on the lines 12-12 of Fig. 5. t

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of elements of the manually set and automatica1ly'released controlling mechanism.

-' Fig. 14: is aview similar to Fig. 8, showtrol the table feeding and punching ing the gear shifting lever inneutral posilongitudinal side bars 3, said frame being mounted upon standards or uprights 4 rest-- ing upon a floor or other foundation. Disposed, at one side of said frame is a pedestal 5 arranged in proximity to one of the side bars 3 and rigidly fastened thereto if desired.

Onthe table 2 is rested and clamped the metallic sheet to be punched, said sheet being firmly held in position thereon by and between relatively fixed and adjustable clamps 6 and 7. These clamps are designed to be respectively'engaged with the opposite end edges of the sheet, the clamp 7. being adjustable along a slot 8 toenable sheets of different lengths to be clamped. The clamps further serve as gages to regulate the settingof the sheet for the punching of a row of holes with due regard to the arrangement of such holes with respect to the ends of the, sheet, and also to properly conactions accordingly. As shown, the clamp carries a trip member 9 forcertain automatic con trolling actions, as hereinafter described.

The table is directly mounted for. travel upon transversely arranged pairs of rolls 10, 11, 12 and 13 arranged at regular intervals apart along, the length of the frame. Of

these, the outer pairs of rolls 10 and. 13 support the ends of the table'at its extremes of movement and said rolls may be mounted on the frame in any suitable manner, while the intermediate rolls 11 and 12 serve as friction drive elements of a table feed and return mechanism. The rollsll and 12 are,

therefore, fixedly mounted on shafts 14 and 15 journaled on the framean d said shafts are connected for movement in unison by a sprocket chain or belt 16 passing around sprocket wheels or pulleys 17 on said shafts. In the present instance I have shown theuse of plain surfaced rollers at one 'sideof the frame and grooved rollers at the opposite side of the frame engaged by horizontal and transverse track members 18 and 19 formed by the side bars of the tableframe, said grooved rollers serving to guide and hold the carriage, against lateral'displacement, but any suitable means for this purpose may be employed.

Carried by the pedestal 5 is a frame 20 supporting the power and punch mechanisms, consisting of an electric or other suitable motor 21 the shaft of which carries a gear pinion 22 meshing with a gear 23 loosely mounted on a driving shaft 24, said gear 23 being in operation continuously driven from the motor. The shaft '24 is coupled by suitable crank mechanism at its forward end to a reciprocating punch 25 arranged, for cooperation with, a stripper 26 and anvil 27, between which anvil and stripper the edge of the'sheet to be punched lies when the .tableis'in fixed or punching position and travels when the table is in motion. The ratio of the gears 22. and 23 is such that while the motor shaft-maybe;

driven at comparatively high speed the drive shaft 24 will be driven at a relatively slow speed; Fixed "to the 'looseprimary: I

drive gear 23 is adrive pulley 28 which is iconnected 'a'belt 29 with a pulley 3.0 On

a transverse countersha'ftfil journaledfon the table, said belt gearing thus lloeing feon tinuously drivenbyanjd with the gear 23 whenthe motor 216s; in"action,"while the Ldrive shaft 24 remains in a state" of rest until intermittently operated at prescribed v periods, as vhereinafter described. fFiXed to the shalftBl is a gear. 82'-normal1y ininesh with gears 33 and 34carried by a gear shift ing lever 35 loosely mounted on the shaft 31 for swinging movements in a direction lon- I The gear 331s provided fortrans intermediate gear 36, from ,the gear'f32 to l is provided for transmitting reverse or backward driving motion from the gear 32 to the ge'ar'35. The gears mentioned constitute the elements of gear trains for driva gear 35" on the shaft 14, while thegear 34' I ing the-table through 'the 'frifction drive 7 mechanism both: forwardly or on its feed motion and backwardly or. on'its return motion to starting position. When the lever 35 is 'in' the position vshown inFigsyl, 2 and V 3, and also shown in full lines in l? ig. 8, the

pinion-36 is in mesh withthe gear 853 for transmitting forward drive motion to the carriage, while whenthe' leve'r 35 is in the osition shown. in dotted lines in Fi 8 the'pinion 36"is"withdrawn from engagement with the gear 35'" and the pinion 34 thrown into engagement therewith for transmitting -mot1on' through the. friction drive mechanism to move the table bachwardon its reverse motion to starting position. Itwill be observed 'thattli'elever 35 is movable topositiions at equal angles to the perpendicular for the forward driving and reverse driving motions,.and that it has an intermediate or perpendicular position, as shown. in full lines in Fig. 14, in which both gears'34' and86 are outof mesh with the gear 35' to stopthe motion of the frict on drive mechanism, sothat the table may be allowed to remain in afstate of rest in its starting position as long as desired. The lever 35 is provided with a SlQtted'T-shaped on the lever arms 46 and 47 to urge the nut head 36 forming a guideway for arolling counterweight 3, which is movable. to reverse positions .at opposite ends of said guideway to maintain the lever in starting and reverse positions. The shaft of this weight which travels in the guide slot is also adapted to engage a seat recess 38 at the center of the guideway to dispose the weight in a mid-way or neutral position, thus preventing tilting of the lever beyond center in either direction when the lever is in its neutral or gear cut-out position. it will thus be understood that when the gear 36 is in mesh with the gear 35 the friction wheels or rollers 11 and 12 will be driven to transmit forward driving motion to the table 2; that when said gear is out of mesh with the gear 35 vand the gear 34 meshes with the gear 35 the friction rollers 11 and :12 will be driven in a reverse direction to move the table backwardly, and that when both gears 34 and 36 are out of mesh with the gear 35 the friction drive rollers Hand 12 will remain stationary.

Journaled upon the frame 1 is a longitudinally extending,screw-shaft 39 carrying at one. end a beveled gear pinion 4L0 meshing with a similar gear, pinion 41 on a shaft 42. T hisshaft 4:2 is adapted to be driven by intermittent feed mechanism from the shaft 2-l at determined periods; Provided for cooperation with the shaft 39 is a split traveler nut 43 comprising relatively movable nut sections 44- and 45 carried by lever arms and 47 extending from head portions as 49 formed on said nut sections. The lever arms 74:6 and 47 are crossed and pivotally connected at their crossing point to each other and to a supporting bracket 50 pro jecting from the table 2 by means of a pivot pin or member 51', whereby the nut sections 4-4: and 45 are pivotally mounted for swing ing movements to move into and out of ena ement with the screw-shaft 39. Above C1 b i thenpivotal point tie lever arms are provided with extensions 52and 53 perforated for the passage of a bolt'54- carrying adjusting and lock nuts 55 and 56. Enoircling the bolt between the-extension 53 and the adjusting nut 55 is a coiled spring 57, acting sections 44 and 45 into engagement with the screw-shaft 39. means of the nuts and 56 the tension of this spring 57 maybe regulated to govern the nut closing pressure of the spring and its resistance to nutopening movement, the nut 56 holding the nut 55 against tendency to displacement. Journaled upon the frame 1 in parallel relation with and immediately above the screw-shaft 39is arnut releasing element comprising a rock bar or shaft 58 of square or other angu lar form in cross section, which is movable through an arc-of one'eighth of its revolu. "H011. to bring-two of its-angular corner edges .with an into engagement with angular recesses formed in the faces of theheads 48 and 1-9, whereby to permit the nut sections and as to he moved by the pressure of the spring 57 into engagement with the screw-shaft 39, and said shaft 56 is also movable to a position to bring two of its opposite fiat faces into engagement with the heads and 1-9 to spread the nut sections as and 45 against the resistance of the spring 57, and thereby release the'nut from engagement with the screw-shaft. The screw-shaft and nut provide a positive feed mechanism intermittently operated to govern the degrees of forwarl feed motion of the table 2 between punching positions. When the nut is in engagement with the shaft, and driving motion is imparted to the latter, the nut will be caused to travel a predetermined distance forward on the shaft so as to move the table, irrespective of its driving motion under the action of the friction driving means, forward a certain distance and no more, and to hold the table in adjusted position firmly against movement while the sheet is being punched. W'hile the table is thus held staby taking up any" possible lost motion that may be due to wear on the sore v-shaft and nut from continued service of the apparatus The nut remains 1n engagement with the screw-shaftand the latter is operated intcrmittently any predetermined number of times for successive punching actions, do pendent upon the length of the sheet and the number of holes to be punched therein, through the instrumentality of goveriung mechanism, whereby, after the required number or series of holes are punched, the nut is released, the punching and intermittent feed gearing thrown out of action, and the friction gearing thrown into actiouto reverse or return the table to starting position.

- The intermittent feed mechanism employed for driving the shaft 39 comprises a crank arm 59 fixed to the rear end of the shaft 24 and carrying a crank or wrist pin 60 coupled to a vertically reciprocating and oscillating rack bar 61. This rack bar 61 is slidable through a guide casing 62 loosely mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 42 so as to rock or oscillate with said lever in its reciprocations under the action of the crank '59. The toothed surface of the rack bar 61 meshes with the peripheral teeth 63 of a spur gear ti l loosely mounted onthe shaft 42 and provided upon one of sides annular series of ratchet teeth 6%,

forming a clutch surface, said ratchet teeth 64: being adapted for engagement with corresponding ratchet or clutch teeth 65 upon a clutch head or disk 66 rigidly mounted on the shaft 42. The gear member 64 is slidable on the shaft 4L2 for movement of its ratchet or clutch face 64 toward and from the clutch face of the clutch head 66, a

. coiled spring 67 being provided to urge the gear 6& into clutching engagement in one of its directions of rotation and to permit recession of said gear 6e and sliding of the sets of clutch teeth over one another on the reverse direction of rotation ofsaid gear 64:. A follower 68 and suitable adjusting and check nuts 69 and are provided for holding the parts in proper relative position and regulating the pressureiof the spring. Thus it will be understood that on.

one-half the revolution of the crank 59 in its orbit of movement the rack bar 61 Wlll be moved 1n one dlrectlon to transmit motion to the gear 64 and through said, gear ated by the crank 59 are so timed with re.- lation to each other that during one-half of the revolution of. the shaft 24, while the table 2 is held fixed, the punch will be on its downward or working stroke, while the rack bar 61 is on its return or inactive stroke, while during the remainder of the revolution of the shaft 24:, and While the punch is being retracted on its up-stroke,

the rack bar 61 will be on itsworking stroke to drive the shaft 42 to communicate motion to the shaft 39 to feed the table forward for the next punching action. The crank or wrist pin 60 extends through a longitudinal slot 67 in the crank arm 59, which is formed with a longitudinal guideway 68 with which the slot connects, and said crank pin is formed with a head 69- adjustable to different positions in the guideway along the length of the crank arm, whereby the effective radial length of the crank arm may be varied and the working stroke of the rack bar 61 correspondingly varied. 0n the pin 60 is a clutch collar or sleeve 7 0 having a toothed face to engage teeth 71 upon the crank arm, whereby the crank pin may be fixed in adjusted position, a'nut 72 being provided for drawing the head 59 and sleeve 70 into clamping position, and the rack bar being fitted to turn loosely upon said sleeve. It will thus be understood that the action of the intermittent feed gearing may be varied, by varying the effective length of the working stroke of the rack bar 61, thus varying the degree of inte'rmittent feed motion ofthe screw-shaft 39,

so that the distance between punching positions of the carriage maybe varied, allowing the holes in the sheet to be punched a greater or less distance apart according to circumstances or conditions within determined limits.v

Feathered to slide upon and rotate with the shaft 24 is a clutch collar 73 provided with a clutch pin 74 to engage a clutch pin '75 on the adjacent face of the pulley 28. .When this clutch collar is free for action it is moved into clutching engagement with the pulley 28 by'a spring 76. The collar 73 is provided with a cam surface 77 for cooperation with a friction roller 78 revolubly mounted upon the upper end of a latch bolt or plunger'79 fitted for vertically lslid ing movements in a casing 80 on the frame 20. The latch bolt or plunger 7 9 is movable to locking position by a spring 81, and when disposed in, such positionthe roller 7 8 is arranged to lie in the path of the cam 77. The arrangement of these'parts is such that when the punch is retracted and the parts in normal or inoperative position, as shown in' Fig. 6, the roller 78 will beengaged by the highest point of the surface of the cam, thus holding-the clutch collar 73 retracted and the spring 76 tensioned, the shaft 24 thus being disconnected from the drive gear 23 and the punch mechanism and intermittent feed mechanism held inoperative, while upon moving the locking bolt downward and withdrawing the roller 78 from out of the path of the earn the clutch collar 7 3 will be freed formovement by the spring 76 to throw it into clutching engagement with the drive gear to drive the'shaft M 24: and the parts operated thereby for successiveactions of the punch and intermittent feed mechanism as longas the locking bolt is held retracted, The lower end of the locking bolt is pivotally coupled to a short crank arm 82 on a rock shaft 83 to which is be manipulated by the operator of the machine to retract the locking bolt'and set the punch mechanism and intermittent feed mechanism' into action. Also connected with the shaft 83 is a crank arm 85 coupled by a link 86 to a combined crank and latch arm 87 on the angular bar or rock shaft 58. A second link 88 connects the crank arm 86 with one arm of a bell crank lever 89 fulcrumed on the frame 20, the other arm of which bell crank lever is connected by a control bar or link 90 with the gear shift ing lever 35. Through this system of controlling connections between the operating handle 83, the bolt 79, rock bar or shaft 58 and gear shifting lever 35, the bolt 79 may be retracted to throw the clutch member 7 3 connected a controlling lever 84, adapted to into' action tofstar't' the 7 operation of the punch and intermittent feed mechanism and to simultaneously adjust the rock bar or shaft '58 to a position allowing the nut 43 to engage the feed shaft 89, while-at the same time the lever 35 will be shifted froma neutral to a table starting position, in

which pinion 36 is brought into meshing'en- When, on the gagement' with gear 35. other hand, the bolt 79 is released for locking projection by its spring 81, so as to effeet the retraction of the clutch member 7 3 and arrest the motion of the plunger and intermittent feed mechanism, the controlling connections just described will transmit motion to the; crank arm 87 to adjust the bar 58 to nut spreading or releasing position, while the link 90 will be drawn upon'to swing the lever 35 to carriage reversing position in which pinion 3 1 meshes with gear 35'. This automatic shifting action to throw the punch and intermittent feed mechanismout of operation, and simultaneously throwmg the table reversing gearlng'into operation, is efiected by the expansive action of" the spring 81, whichis made of sufiicient strength for this purpose. The link 90 has a slip-joint or lost-motionconnection with the lever 85, saidconnection comprising'a headed pin or stud 91 engaging a slot 92 in the link. When the lever 35 is in forward feed position the stud 91 engages the outer 7 end wall of the slot 92, as shown in full line positions of the lever illustrated in Figs. 3

and 8. This slot is of sufficient length to permit the lever 85 to be drawn positively to a position slightly beyond center on its movement to reverse position, the pin 71 then sliding toward the inner end wall of the slot 92 and such motion of the lever bein completed by the rolling action of the counterweight 37 in an obvious manner. When the lever 35 is in reverse position, the lost-motion connection referred to permits it to be independently moved back to a midway or neutral position for throwing the friction drive mechanism out of operation,

such motion oftlie lever 35 to neutral posiworking position, against the resistance of. spring 81, for an intermittent forward feed motion of the carriage and the operations of-the'punch and intermittent feed mecha nism. When the table 2 has completed its degree of forward feed motion dependent upon the length of the sheet to be punched, the-trip member 9 engages and retracts the latch member 9491K]. thus releases the crank arm 87, whereupon the spring 81 will operate to project the locking bolt 79, to shift the lever 35 to reverse position, and to turn the rock shaft 58 to spread the split nut a3,-thusthrowing the punching and intermittent I feed mechanism out of action when the table reaches the limit'of its forward movement, and also throwing the reversing gearing of the friction'drive mechanism into action to start the backward movement of the table and. return it to starting position. When the locking bolt 79 moves upwardly as described it disposes the friction roller 78 for engagement with the arm 77, which,

during a portion of the final rotation of the shaft 24, will engage the surface of the roller 78 and thus slide the clutch member 73 back to retracted position. Carried by or suitably connected with the shifting lever 35 is apivoted trip arm or member 96 having a hooked end 97 which is arranged to lie in the'pat'h of rearward movement of the nut 13 or "its support in the return movement of the table 2. When the table approaches the limit of its reverse motion to starting. position the nut or its support engages the inner or straight face of hook 97. of the member 96 and trips the same to-shift the lever 35 from the reverse position to its neutral position, this operation being permitted by the lost'motion connection 91-92, as previously described, thecounterweight resting in the depression 88 and holding the lever in such position and the friction drive gearing out of action. On the ensuingforward movement of'the nut or its support the same engages the outer beveled face of hook 97, whereby the memberis tilted upward to allow the nut to pass. l

In the operation of the machine, the sheet to be punched is laid upon the table 2, its forward end engaged and clamped by the work clamp 6 and the clamp 7 adjusted to engage its rear edge and to bring'the' trip releasing action, from which it will be un derstood that, the crank pin 60 having been adjusted to punch the holes at the desired intervals apart, the trip member 9 will, following the final punching'action, shift the latch 9 to release the crank arm 87 for the automatic operation of throwing the punch and intermittent feed mechanism out of action and effecting the automatic reversal or return of the table to starting po sition. FIOII1 this it will be apparent that any number of holes, at any desired distance apart, may be punched according to the length of the sheet and other requiremember 9 into proper position for a latch ments. By the use ofthe intermittent feed mechanism a positivefeed motion of the table to accurately spaced punching position will not only be assured, but the table and work will be held rigidly against movement between. the intervals of feed-motion and while the punch is inaction. v The machine is therefore adapted to be set for a wide Variation ofpunching actions in punching a 10 row or series of holes in sheet metal plates of varying lengths, and enables such work to be rapidly and conveniently performed without liability of distorting or otherwise marring or injuring the sheet. If, while on its-forward motion, the table or sheet should strike any solid foreign object, damage to the apparatus or sheetwill be prevented by an automatic stoppage of the workingparts under such conditions. This result is secured by reason of the fact that any tend- :ency'to back pressure on the gears 34: and

35, due to sudden stoppage of the table, will result in such pressure being transmitted to the lever which will tilt, sufficiently to cause movement of the weight 37 and the shifting of such lever to normal or reverse position. As the drive gear 23 is constantly in motion when the machine is in use the operation'of starting the mechanism into action for punching is simplified, as it re- 7 quires merely the shifting ofthe hand lever 84: to working position.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim v V 1. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, a feed mechanism for advancing the table and returning it to starting position, a second 2. In a spacing and punching machine,

the combination of a traveling work supporting table, friction drive mechanism for impositively advancing the table and pos tively returning it to starting position, a punch, intermittent positive feed mechanism for advancing the table step by step to spaced punching positions and holding it fixed in such positions against the impositive advancing motion of the friction drive mechanism, means operating in conjunction with said positive feed mechanism for operating the punch between intervals of feed motion of the table and while'said table is held in its fixed positions, and means for throwing the positive feed mechanism and punch out of action at the cessation of the punching operations and reversing the said friction drive gearing for a positive reverse driving action of said friction drive mechanism on the table to return the same to starting positionj V 1 f p In a spacing and punchingmachine, a traveling. work supporting table, a friction drive mechanism having a slip drive action on the table for urging the table forwardly and having a positivedrive action on the table for reversing its direction ofmotion to return it to starting position, a controlling positive feed mechanism for governing i the forward motion of the table, moving it intermittently to predetermined punching positions and fixing: it against motion in such positions, a punch, means for periodically operating said positive'feed mechanism, means for periodically operating the punch between intervals of operation of the feed controlling mechanism, and means forrendering the punch and positive feed mechanism inoperative at the conclusion of a predetermined number of punching actions and rendering such friction drive mechanism operative for pos tive reverse drive action to return the work table to normal position. v

4. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, friction drive gearing for urging the table forwardly and returning it to starting position, a punch, feed mechanism positively connected with the table for intermittently advancing said table to spacedpunching positions and holding it in such positions against the forward driving action of the friction drive mechanism, means for successively and intermittently operating said positive drive mechanism and punch to advance the table and actuate the punch a predetermined number of times, gearing operable for actuating the friction drivevgearing for forward driving or table return motions, and means operable after a predetermined number of punching actions to throw the punch and positive'feed mechanism out of operation and to reverse the direction of motion of said gearing so as to return the table to starting position.

table, friction drive mechanism for the table, gearing for moving the table forwardly and backwardly, a punch, positive feed gearing for controlling the forward motion of the table and advancing it to predetermined punching positions, means operable for adjusting the first named gearing for a forward driving action of the friction 120 5. In aspacing and punching machine, the i combination of a traveling work supporting drive mechanism and throwing the punch and positive feed mechanism into action, said means also being operable for automatically adjusting the first named gearing for reversing the direction of motion of the friction drive gearing to return the table to starting position and for simultaneously throwing the punch and positive feed mechanism out of action, means for holding the aforesaid means in position for a forward drive action of the friction drive mechanism and successive and intermittent actions of the punch and positive feed mechanism, and

means for rendering said holding means inoperative, after a predetermined number of punching actions, so as to throw the punch and positive feed mechanism out of action and effect the return of the table to starting position.

6. in a spacing and punching machine, driving means, a traveling Work supporting table, a punch, feed mechanism actuatedby said driving means for intermittently advancing the table, holding the table fixed between intervals of motion, and operating the punch while the table is held fixed, means also driven by said driving means and independent of said feed mechanism for returning the table to starting position, and

means for connecting the feed mechanism to the driving means for feeding action, said means being operative for disconnecting said feeding means from the driving means and simultaneously connecting the table returning means with said driving means for returning said table to starting position.

7. In a spacing and punching machine and in combination with suitable punching mechanism, a traveling work supporting table, a drive mechanism for positively and intermittently moving the table forward to spaced punching positions, and a second drive mechanism having a slip motion with relation to the table for continuously and impositively moving said table forwarc, said second drive mechanism being operative for continuously returning the table to normal position after the punching action.

8. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a drive shaft, a punch actuated bysaid shaft, intermittent table feed mechanism actuated by said shaft, a primary drive element normally free from'engagement with the shaft,

means for coupling said element to the shaft to effect the operation of the intermittent.

feed mechanism and punch in timed accord, table reversing mechanism, and means operative on a prescribed movement of the table for throwing said coupling means out of action and said table reversing mechanism into action. 7

9. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting-table, a drive element, a drive shaft normally free from conpunch actuated by the shaft, mechanism also driven by the shaft for intermittently ad-,

vancing the table, mechanism for retracting the table, and means for throwing said shaft into or out of driven engagementwith said driving element and in the latter-named action to throw said table retracting means into operation.

'11. In a spacing andpunching machine, a

traveling work supporting table, a shaft, a drive element, a punch actuated by the shaft, intermittently operable ratchet feed mechanism actuated by the shaft for advancing the table, a clutch device for connecting the shaft with and disconnecting it from said drive element, and means embodying rela tively adjustable elements comprising component parts of said ratchet feed mechanism for varying the degree of table advancing motion thereof.

12. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a driving element, a shaft adapted to be driven from the driving element, a clutch for connecting the shaft with and disconnecting it from the driving element, a punch actuated by said shaft, intermittent feed mechanism for the table also actuated by the shaft, and means for throwing said clutch device into and out of action and simultaneously throwing a part of said intermittent feed mechanism into and out of action. 7

13. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a driving element, a shaft normally free from connection with the driving element, a clutch for coupling said shaft to and uncoupling it from he driving element, means normally acting upon the'clutch to move it into coupling position, a punch actuated by the shaft, gearing for feeding the table forward, means also actuated by the shaft for intermittently operating said gearing, and means for retracting the clutch and simultaneously rendering said gearing inoperative.

14.111 a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, a feed screw, a feed nut movable into and out of engagement with the screw, one of said parts being carried by the table, means for operating the punch and screw in timed and means for disconnecting the nut: from.

the screw-shaft to permit independent motion of the table.

16. In a spacing and punching machine,

a traveling work supporting table, a punch,

a feed screw, a feed nut movable into and out of engagement with the feed screw, one

of said parts being carried by the table,'

rack feed mechanism for operating the screw, and means for operating the. punch and rack feed mechanism in timed accord.

17. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, intermittent feed mechanism for the table operable in timed accord with the punch and embodying a screw-shaft and a nut adapted,

to travel thereon, one of said parts being connected with the table, and means for disengaging the elements of the gearing from each other, so as to permit movement of the table independently of said gearing.

18. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, intermittent feed mechanism for the table operable in timed accord with the punch and including a screw-shaft and a split nut cooperating therewith, the nut sections be ing movable into and out of engagement with the shaft, and means for adjusting said nut sections into and out of engagement with the shaft.

19. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supportng table, a punch, gearing for feeding the table forward com prising a screw-shaft and a sectional nut, a driving element, means for simultaneously connecting the punch and intermittent mechanism with and disconnecting the same from the driving element, and coordinate means for simultaneously moving the nut sections into and out of engagement with the screwshaft.

20. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, intermittent feed gearing for the table operating in timed accord with the punch,

means for throwing the punch and feed gearing simultaneously into and out of action, and coordinate means for simultaneously connecting the gearing with and disconnecting it from the table.

21'. In a spacing and punching machine, the combination of a traveling work supso as to permit the table to be moved inde-- pendently of the gearing when the punch and feed mechanism are idle.

22. In a spacing and punching machine, I

a traveling work supporting table, a punch, a feed screw, a feed'nut engageable and disengageable from the screw, oneof said parts being carried by the table, intermittent feed mechanism for operating the screw, and a common driving means for actuating' the punch and intermittent feed mechanism.

'23. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a punch, a feed screw, a feed nut engageable and disengageable from 'the screw, intermittent feed mechanism for operating the screw, a common shaft for operating the punch and intermittent feed mechanism, a primary drive element normally disconnected from said shaft, a clutch for connecting said element with the shaft, and means for simul-' taneously throwing the clutch and feedinut into and out of action.

24. In a spacing andrpunching machine, a traveling wor: supporting'ta-ble, a drive shaft, a punch actuated by said shaft, a feed screw, a feed nut engageable with and disengageable from the screw, one of said parts being carried by the table, intermittent feed mechanism operated by the drive shaft, means for varying the action of said intermittent feed mechanism, a primary driving element normally disconnected from the shaft, a clutch for coupling said primary drive element to the shaft, and means for simultaneously throwing the clutch and nut into and out of action.

25. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a drive shaft, a punch actuated thereby, a feed screw, intermittent feed mechanism actuated by the drive shaft for operating said screw, a nut carried by the table and engageable with and disengageable from the screw, said nut and screw operating when engaged to positively feed the table forward, a primary drive element normally disconnected from the drive shaft, a clutch for coupling said drive element to the shaft, a friction drive gearing for the table operated by said primary drive element and having an impositive forward drive action on the table and a positive rearward drive action thereon, and means for simultaneously throwing the nut and clutch into action for intermittently feeding the table forward and punching the workbetween intervals of feed'motion, said means being operative to simultaneously disconnect the clutch and nut to throw the same out 'ofaction and to couple the friction drive mechanism with the primary drive element for a reverse drive action.

.26. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a drive shaft, a punch actuated thereby, a motion transmitting shaft, gearing between said motiontransmitting shaft and the table for .feeding the latter forward, a crank arm carried by the driveshaft, a ratchet drive connection between said crank armand the motion transmitting shaft for intermittent] y operating the latter from the. drive shaft, and anadjustable connection betweencsaid crank 'arm and ratchet mechanismffor varying the degree of intermittent feed motion of the latter. 1 m 1' 27. In a. spacing and punching machine, 'a traveling work supportingtable, a-drive shaft, a punch actuatedthereby, a motion transmitting shaftin gear with the shaft for transmitting forward motion thereto,fla gear loosely mounted on the motion trans mitting. shaft, a clutch connection between said gear and the motion transmitting shaft, a crank arm carried by the drive's'haft, and a rack bar actuated by the crankarm "and meshing with said gear.

28. In a spacing and punching machine, a

traveling work supporting table, a] drive shaft, a .punch actuated thereby, a-motion transmitting shaft in gear with the table for imparting feed motionthereto, a gear loose on the motion transmitting shaft, a

clutch connection between said .gearand the motion transmitting shaft, a crank arm carried byrthe drive shaft, a rack bar meshing with the gear, and a pivotal connection be tween the rack barand crank arm adjustable lengthwise of said crank arm. I

29. Ina spacing and punching machine,

7 a continuously driven drive element-a secinto and out of engagement with the first mechanism and reversin 0nd drive element normally free;from connection therewith, a traveling work supporting table, friction gearing for advancing and retracting the table driven by said constantly driven drive element, 'a punch driven by the second named. drive element, intermittent feed mechanism driven by the second drive'element for governing. and controlling the forward motion of thetable to spaced. punching positions, ,means for throwing the second named drive element named driveelement, and means for releasing. the table from the intermittent feed the direction of motion of the friction drlve gearing forthe means for spreading the nut sections to free them fromengagement with the shaft and releasing them to permit them to move into engagement with the shaft.

31. In a spacing'and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a continuously operated driving element, an actuating shaft, a punch actuatedthereby, in-

termittent feed mechanismoperable by the shaft, said mechanism including a screwshaft and asectional nut, means for normally urging the nut sections into "engagement with the screw-shaft, means for spreading the nutsections, a clutch device for connectingthe actuating shaft with and disconnecting it from the constantly movable drive element, a controller forithe clutch, and means for simultaneously operating said controller and the nut spreading device.

32. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table,'drive gearfor moving the same forwardly and rearwardly, drive gearing adapted to be positively connected with the table for controlling the forward motion thereof, advancing said .ing impositively connected with the table table to spaced punching positions and holding theitable in suchpositions, a continuously operating primary drive element, a punch, intermittent feed mechanism for periodically actuating the second named drive gearing, means for' connecting said"- drive element with and disconnecting it from the punch and intermittentfeed' mechanism, a shifting device governed by theafores'aid means for reversingthe direction of-motion of the first named drive mechanism, and

means oontrolledby the movement of the table to" govern the aforesaid meansfor throwing the punch and-positive drive gear- Iingout of action at the limit of forward I movement ofthe table and actuating said shifting device to, effect the return of the table to starting position. F

33. In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, drive gearing in frictional engagement with the table for advancing and retracting the same, in-

termittently operated positive feed gearing governing the forward motion ofthe table to spaced punching. positions, a punch, means for setting the positive drive gearing-and punch into operation for successive spacing o traveling work supporting table, a'punch, a

feed mechanism for advancing the table and returning it to starting-position, a second feed mechanism intermittently operable'for positively governing the advancing motion of the table to spaced punching positions and maintaining it in such positions during punching periods against the driving action of the first named feed mechanism, means for throwing the punch and second'n'amed i as feed mechanism into action'for successive table feeding and punching actions, and means operating at a proper time, period for throwing the punch and second named feed mechanism out of action and governing the first named feedmechanism to return the table to' starting position. e

f 35. In a spacing'and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, a shaft, a-driving element. loose upon the shaft, a punch actuated by the shaft, a. feed screw, a nut carried by the table and engageable with and disengageable from the screw, ratchet mechanism also driven by theshaft for intermittently rotating said screw, and means for simultaneously throwing the shaft into and out of" driven engagement with said driving element and the nut into and out of driven engagement with the feedscrew.

36.' In a spacing and punching machine, a traveling work supporting table, av punch, means for successively feeding the table forward step by step and operating the punch between such step by step motions, a table drive mechanism reversible totdrive the table backward and having a forward slip drive action on the table controlled by said 'step by step feeding means, and means for rendering said punch and. step by step feeding means inoperative afterv a predetermined number of punches have been made and reversing said table drive mechanism for a table reversing action. i

37 In a spacing and punching machine, a

traveling work supporting table, a punch, intermittent feed mechanism forthe table,

driving means, an automatic clutch for connecting the punch and intermittent feed mechanism with thedriving means, an-automatlc device for retracting-and holding I --the clutch normally inactive, a latch for holding said device in clutch releasingposition, and means operated by the table for re- I leasing said latch.

38. In a spacing and punching machine, a

' traveling work supporting table, a punch, a'

screw-shaft, anut havingsections movable into and out of engagement with the shaft, intermittent feed mechanism for operating the shaft, driving means, an automatic clutch for connecting the punch and intermittent feed mechanism. with the driving means, an automatic device for retracting and holding the clutch normally inactive, .a

controlling connection between said device and 'the'nut for opening and closing the latscrew-shaft, a nut having sections movable into and out of engagement with the shaft,

intermittent feed mechanism for'operating the shaft, drlv-ing means, an automatic clutch for connectingthe punchand intermittent I feed" mechanism with the driving means, an automatic device for retracting and, holding the clutch normally inactive, a

and punching machine, a

controlling connection between said. device and the nut for opening and closing the latter, a latch for holding said device in clutch releasing and nut closing position, relatively adjustable work clamps carried b ythe table, p and .a contact carriedby one ofsaid ,work

clamps for releasing said latch. v V

i 40, Ina spacing and punching machine, a

traveling work supporting table, a punch, friction feed mechanismgfor the table, a

shifter adjustable to positions to adapt said friction feed mechanism to drive the table forward and backward, a screw-shaft, a nut having'sections movable into and. out of en-' gagement with the shaft, intermittent feed mechanism for operating the shaft, an ailtomatic clutch for connecting the punch and intermittent feed mechanism with thedriving means, an automatic device for retracting the clutch and holdi'ng the samefnorthe shifter'for a forward driving action of mally inactive, a controlling connection bethe friction drive mechanism, and" means operated by the table to release said device foraction toleifect the retraction of the clutch, spreading ofthe nut and movement ,of the shifter to cause the friction "drive fmechanlsm to return the table to vstarting position, i i Y 41, In a spacing and punching machine,la traveling work supporting table, a driving shaft, a punch actuated by said shaft, a

positive intermittent table feed mechanism also actuated by said shaft, a primary'drive xelement normally free from connection with the shaft, a fr ction feed mechanism for feeding the table forwardly and backvvardly, gearing for driving said friction feed mechanism, and means for simultane ously connecting the intermittent feed mechanism and friction feed mechanism with the primary driving element for a forward feed motion and for operating the punch at prescribed periods, and for simultancously disconnectmg the punch and intermittent positive feed mechanism from the primary driving element and connecting the 10 friction feed mechanism with said primary driving element for a reverse table driving action.

In testimony whereof I'afiix my signature.

COLUMBUS K. LASSITER. 

